Although it’s no longer January, you can make the choice to elevate your everyday from any day, week or month in the year. We all have the power to make our every day exactly how we want it to be – whether it’s small changes to our routine or a shift in our mindset. So let’s run through some strategies for raising the bar and making the most of our every day’s this year.

Set daily intentions

At the start of your day, make it your first priority to take a few minutes to set intentions for what you want to accomplish. This can be as simple as writing down a few things you want to achieve that day in your phone notes app, or setting a specific goal for the week in a journal. Having a clear idea of what you want to achieve will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the day.

It’s also a great time to note two to three things that you are grateful for. Starting the day off with gratitude will help you to be in a positive and grateful mindset throughout the day.

Prioritise self-care

Taking care of yourself is essential for living a happy and fulfilling life and that starts with prioritising self care. Carve out some time each day for self-care activities. This can be anything whether that’s reading a book, going for a walk, or taking a relaxing bath. By prioritising yourself first, you’ll be better able to tackle the tasks of the day and approach them with a positive attitude.

An easy way to fit self-care into your day when you are busy, is to do a short meditation exercise after completing your daily intentions and gratitude journalling in the morning. Mobile apps like Headspace and Balance offer quick 3-5 minute mediation exercises for beginners. This will help you feel calm and centred before heading off into the hustle and bustle of your day.

Surround yourself with positivity

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, ‘You are the company you keep’ and it’s no exaggeration. The people and things around us have a huge impact on our mood and outlook on life. Make sure to surround yourself with people and things that lift you up and inspire you. Spend time with people who fill up your cup, rather than drain you. Do small things in your space that make you feel good, like creating a coffee station on your bench, or hanging artwork that you love, or burn delicious smelling candles in your home – whatever your version of these things are, do them.

Learn something new

Learning something new is a great way to elevate your everyday life. It can be super simple, like finding a new hobby, or something more ambitious like taking dance classes or learning a new language. Challenging yourself to learn something new will not only expand your knowledge and skills, but you’ll also be keeping your mind active and engaged – which is essential for personal growth.

Be present

One of the biggest challenges of modern life is being in the moment. With so many distractions and interruptions, it can be hard to focus on the experience you’re currently in. Make an effort to be present in each moment, whether that’s by meditating, journaling, or simply taking a few deep breaths. When you’re fully present in the moment, you’ll be able to appreciate and enjoy the simple things in life.

Learning to be in the moment is a really hard, long road. So don’t get yourself down if you find yourself struggling to stay in the moment. Whenever it crosses your mind, centre yourself in that moment. The more you remember, the easier and more like second nature it’s going to become.

What are some tips for staying focused and motivated throughout the day?

It can be really hard to stay focused and motivated, I get it. The thing I have found most effective is to break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones, and prioritise them based on importance.

Another really effective thing is to take regular breaks to stretch, walk or do some deep breathing can help refocus and recharge. If I am feeling overwhelmed or angry and stressed, I literally get up to go and walk outside. Not for a full walk around the block, but just out onto the balcony or out of the office, just to breathe fresh air and re-centre myself.

Another idea is to eliminate distractions. If you have an iPhone, utilise the ‘focus’ function on your phone and silence all notifications during times you want to be left at peace. If not, turn off notifications from social media and email and limit the amount of time your phone allows you to open those apps.

Surrounding yourself with positive influences, such as being in nature or listening to some vibe-y music, helps to boost serotonin. Setting clear, achievable goals and regularly celebrating successes can keep you motivated and on track.

Lastly, finding a source of inspiration or friend who is on the same journey as you can help to provide support and encouragement when motivation wavers.

I’m sure reading all of these can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Take one or two of the suggestions and apply them to your everyday life. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling calm, centred and the most elevated version of yourself. Remember to take things a day at a time, and don’t be afraid to switch things up with different strategies to find what works best for you. And above all, don’t forget to enjoy the journey!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, Raise the Bar: Strategies for Elevating Your Everyday Life.

Until next time,

Melissa Jayne x

Photo by Mathilde Langevin